Punjab and Haryana HC flooded with runaway couples protection pleas, states contemplate new Appellate Authority

CHANDIGARH: The states of Punjab and Haryana may soon have a new Appellate Authority to adjudicate on grievances of runaway couples seeking protection from the state, they have informed the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

The authority would deal with appeals after representations seeking protection are dealt with by the Police.

"Punjab, Haryana and U.T., Chandigarh promised to explore the feasibility of placing an Appellate Authority to adjudicate of any appeal by aggrieved party after redressal of the representation at the first instance," a bench of Justice Sandeep Moudgil of the Punjab and Haryana High Court noted.

The Court had sought the assistance of Advocate Generals of Punjab, Haryana, and the Standing Counsel of the Union Territory of Chandigarh to streamline protection pleas by runaway couples, which otherwise flooded the Court.

To avoid the same, it was suggested that the representations be disposed off/ adjudicated by reasoned speaking orders only and it is only thereafter that an aggrieved party be allowed to move Court as provided under the Criminal Procedure Code or any other law.

It was also suggested that each district "may have a Nodal Officer who will ensure that a representation received in any of the Police Stations from a run-away couple either married, proposing to get married or willing to live in relationship will be addressed within a time frame to be the shortest possible and in case such grievance is not addressed by the entrusted officer of Police, he will be made accountable for the same."

The wider issue was heard while the Court was hearing a plea by a woman claiming that her partner (who is a minor as per records) was detained since the partner's parents are opposed to their same-sex relationship.

The Court has now listed the matter for further hearing on February 14.

Cause Title: X v State of Haryana and others